A Delhi court has decided to put an IRS officer on trial along with his chartered accountant (CA) wife for allegedly owning assets exceeding his legal income, rejecting the womans plea that the CBI has clubbed her income with that of her husband to arrive at the disproportionate assets

Special CBI judge Vinod Kumar passed order on framing of charges against the couple, saying the woman will have enough opportunity to explain her stand on her husbands assets during the trial.

While passing the order on charges against the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Milind Purshottam Damle for allegedly owing disproportionate assets worth R54.67 lakh, the court charged his wife Murdul M Damle for aiding and abetting him in amassing the wealth.

There is enough material on record to frame a charge against accused Milind Purshottam Damle under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the court said.

The defence counsel, appearing for Damle and his wife, said they had tried to explain to the investigating officer about excess money recovered from their house but their version was not investigated by the CBI. He said Murdul is a practicing chartered accountant for past 20 years and is having her own income.

The judge, however, said, I have considered their submissions and I am of the opinion that this trial offers them an opportunity to give proper explanation and prove their defence.